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MOGA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday signalled that the Bharatiya Janata Party is preparing to contest the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections on its own, marking a shift from the alliance politics that earlier defined the party’s presence in the state. Addressing the BJP’s “Badlav Rally” in Moga district, Shah also promised that a law prohibiting religious conversion would be introduced if the BJP forms the government in Punjab.
Scores of people gathered at the rally venue to see and hear the Union Home Minister, with BJP leaders projecting the event as a major political mobilisation ahead of the next Assembly elections.
Earlier, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar urged Shah to help save Punjab from what he described as the growing menace of gangsterism in the state. Addressing the gathering before Shah’s speech, Jakhar said Punjab was facing serious law and order challenges and called upon the Union Home Minister to ensure that the state is freed from the clutches of gangster networks.
The rally is being seen as part of the BJP’s attempt to expand its political base in Punjab and position itself as an independent political force ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Speaking at the rally, Shah recalled the earlier alliance between the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal and said the party had entered Punjab politics as a “younger brother” in that arrangement. Indicating a shift in strategy, he said the BJP is now preparing to fight the next Assembly elections independently.
“Earlier we came as the younger brother. Now the BJP will contest the 2027 elections to form its own government,” Shah said while urging the people of Punjab to give the party an opportunity.
Shah also asserted that wherever the BJP secures around 19 percent vote share, the party goes on to form the government. He said this shows that political change is possible in Punjab as well and appealed to voters to support the BJP to bring a new direction to the state.
A key announcement made during the rally was Shah’s promise to introduce a law banning religious conversion if the BJP forms the government in Punjab. According to him, the legislation would be aimed at preventing forced or illegal religious conversions.
Launching a sharp attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government, Shah accused it of failing to fulfil its promises and alleged that corruption had increased under its rule. He targeted Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that the Punjab government was being controlled by leaders from Delhi.
Shah alleged that Punjab’s resources were being used for the political activities of AAP leaders and criticised the functioning of the state government.
In a sharp remark aimed at Mann, he said Punjab does not need a comedian as Chief Minister but a leader who can run the state effectively.
“The Punjab government has done nothing except make the Chief Minister act like a pilot for Kejriwal at the expense of the state,” Shah said, accusing the AAP government of being a government of broken promises. Political observers see Shah’s remarks about contesting the 2027 elections independently as a significant signal about the BJP’s evolving strategy in Punjab.
Since the collapse of its long-standing alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal following the farmers’ agitation, the BJP has been attempting to strengthen its organisational network and expand its political base in the state.
Saturday’s rally in Moga is being viewed as part of that broader effort to mobilise support and project the BJP as an alternative political force in Punjab ahead of the next Assembly elections.
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